Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

s. W. GRIFFETH.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 465,322. Patented Dec}. 15, 1891.

f/ s m M a E D O 0 Q l Wan-11% a. gwilmeooeo (Inca 1 4906 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

S. W. GRIFFETH.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 465,322. Patented Dec. 15, 1-891;

Ell l yin b00000 U NITEI) ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN IV. GRIFFETI-I, OF ALMA, MICHIGAN.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,322, dated December 15, 1891.

Application filed July 30, 1891. Serial No. 401,214. (No model.-

To aZZ whom it may concern:-

Be itknown that I, STEPHEN W. GRIFFETH, a citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Alma, in the county of Gratiot and State of Michigan,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in twin-jaw car-couplings.

The object of the invention is to provide a cheap and effective means for coupling and I uncoupling car-couplers of the above-mentioned class; and it consists in the construction and combination of the parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification,Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car-coupling constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view.

A refers to the car-body, to the under side of which are secured beams B and B, the beam B being parallel with the sides of the car, while the beam B is at an angle therewith. The jaw or coupling-head O is pivoted between these beams to have a lateral movement and is permitted a longitudinal movement upon the shank. When the cars are brought together, the draw-head O is swung to one side to abut against the front end of the beam B, such movement being caused by the springs Dand D, carried by the beam B. The springs D and Djare connected to each other by a rod d, and by this construction I provide a compound spring having great force and which is not liable to be broken by the jars and impacts to which it is subjected. The front end of the draw-head is provided with a hook and with recesses c c, in which the ordinary link can pass when it is desired to couple the cars by means of a link and pin.

E refers to a slidingbar, which moves in guides secured to the outer edge of the beam B, and this bar is operated from the shaft F by-means of chains j, which are secured to the uncoupled.

To the front of the car-body are rigidly secured depending hangers or plates G, to which are pivotally secured the levers H and I, which pass through suitable guides having notches or catches, as shown, said levers carrying springs for throwing them into engagement-with the catches. To one of the hangers G is pivoted a rock-bar K, to the lower end of which is connected a rod 70, extending from the lever I. To the upper end of the rock-bar is secured a chain, which is connected to the draw-head and to the lever H. By this construction it will be obvious that by operating either of the levers the draw-head can be moved to one side to uncouple the cars, and when the levers are held in such a position the draw-heads will be thrown out of operation to prevent the cars coupling when they come together. The lever I is provided with an extension I, which slides upon a pine and is operated from the top of the car to move the lever I. The draw-head Ois provided with ribs 0 on its under side, which bear upon the front cross-piece attached to v the forward ends of the beams B and B, and these ribs considerably reduce the frictionof the parts.

By the constructionhereinbefore described I provide a car-coupling which is automatic in action, which can be locked against accidental displacement, and manipulated to uncouple either from the top or side of the car.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a car coupling havinglaterally-moving draw-heads, of a sliding bar E, operated from a shaft by means of chains which pass around said shaft in opposite directions, said bar being projected to hold the draw-heads in locked position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a draw-head C, of

each other at their free ends, one of said springs bearing on the draw-head, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a car-coupling constructed substantially as shown, of an inclined beam B having springs D and D se- 7 cured on opposite sides thereof, a rod or bar se'tfforth.

' 5. In combination with a laterally movable draw-head constructed substantially as shown, hangers G, levers pivotally secured thereto and adapted to engage with holding devices, connections for securing the clrawhead to a pivoted rock-bar K, lever H, and connections attached to the lower end of said rock-bar and to a lever I, substantially as set forth.

6. In a car-coupling constructed substantially as shown and provided with a drawhead which is spring-actuated in one direction, a rock-barK, suitably supported, means for connecting the upper end of said rock-bar with the draw-head, connections attached to the lower end of the rock-barand to a lever I, said lever being pivoted, as shown, and provided with an extension I, pivoted thereto, said extension being pivoted to a pin a, which passes through a slot therein, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

STEPHEN W. GRIFFETH.

Witnesses: i

FRANCIS PALMER, FRED KERWEN. 

